Profile

As a budding six-year-old, Alex Davis joined Clifton and fast forwarding, represented England at U16 and U19 level before other honours beckoned. In 2011 he was named Rugby World Schools Player of the Month before being chosen for the Rugby World All Stars team. He was born in Gloucester, grew up in Bristol, signed an England Sevens contract in 2014 and made his HSBC World Series bow in the Gold Coast that October.

He has figured in 15 tournaments so far, including those at Port Elizabeth in December that year, Las Vegas in February 2015, Cape Town that December where he was England’s top try-scorer with five and Wellington the following month where he ran in four. He added to his total with two in Paris, one in London in May last year, together with one in the 38-7 win over Russia in Dubai last December and two in England’s Cape Town triumph the following weekend. Two more in Wellington in January this year, one in Sydney the following month and another in London in May against Samoa took him to 21 overall.

Alex had been included in the 25-strong Great Britain training squad for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, won a place in the 12-man party but was unluckily ruled out by an ankle injury sustained in training. Team GB head coach Simon Amor described the setback as “incredibly disappointing”.

Alex had helped Great Britain Students to lift the sixth World University Sevens Championship title in São José dos Campos, Brazil in August 2014 and played for Loughborough University for four years. His other distinctions include appearing in the annual Remembrance Day Match for the Barbarians against Combined Services at Plymouth in November 2013.

David Morris, director of rugby at Loughborough University, said: “Alex’s devastating attacking play and fearless defence have been crucial to Loughborough Students’ recent success in National One. He has developed a real mental robustness, delivering big performances under pressure.” Alex is also a talented cricketer, having represented Gloucestershire.